Slashdot Mirror
Nintendo Plans New Version of Switch Next Year (wsj.com)
According to The Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is planning to release a new version of its Switch gaming console next year (Warning: source may be paywalled; alternative source) "to maintain the sales momentum of the device," which is "no longer delivering the favorable surprises that marked the machine's first year on the market." From the report: Nintendo is still debating what new hardware and software features to include in the upgrade and weighing the cost of the features, people with knowledge of the discussions said. One option is improving the display, they said. The current Switch uses a lower-end liquid-crystal display without some technologies that are standard in more recent smartphone LCDs. Updating the display with these technologies would make it brighter, thinner and more energy-efficient. The updated Switch isn't expected to adopt the organic light-emitting diode or OLED panels used in Apple's iPhone X series. Nintendo is looking to release the new Switch in the latter half of 2019, perhaps as soon as summer, the people said. [...] The upgraded Switch would likely share many features with the current version and be compatible with existing Switch game software.
I'm betting this'll use 7nm chips, and Nintendo is mulling whether they should just improve the battery life, or improve the performance. Right now, when in portable mode, the SoC is underclocked in order to improve battery life, but it renders at 720p (for the 720p screen) and framerate is noticeably worse in many games (Doom and Xenoblade at least). It'd be tempting to have it run at the docked clock speed while in portable mode, slap a 1080p screen on there, and give owners the same experience in docked and portable mode.
It's also worth noting that a new Switch revision is expected to fix the hardware bugs responsible for it being hacked, so there is that.
I'm still wondering where the 3rd party games are, considering how well the systems have sold. Hope it didn't Vita itself with high development costs.
Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
> The updated Switch isn't expected to adopt the organic light-emitting diode or OLED panels used in Apple's iPhone X series.
Correction, all iPhone X models do not use OLED as the iPhone XR uses an IPS panel (which is one of the reasons why it is cheaper).
This is the tiniest bit annoying because Iâ(TM)ve only just bought a Switch a few months ago. At the time every forecast was saying at least 2020 before the next iteration. But do I mind? No, not really. The entertainment value Iâ(TM)ve had from the Switch has been superb, and Iâ(TM)ll probably buy the new one as soon as it comes out.
Version 1.0 "Switch"
Version 2.0 "Switchblade"
The current Switches are all unpatchable due to Nvidia's Tegra. The only way to fix that hw-level vulnerability is new hw.
1. real bluetooth headset support
2. secondary USB on top so it can charge while playing on the kickstand
3. Cellular Network support (yes, a SIM card, either physical or eSIM)
4. Last but not least, better materials on the tablet section casing
5. More brightness on the screen. It doesn't need to be better or worse, or have more pixels, or be OLED. All it needs is a bit of more backlight
"The updated Switch isn't expected to adopt the organic light-emitting diode or OLED panels used in Apple's iPhone X series"
So we had OLEDs in Android phones for years, now that Apple introduced it it becomes Apple thing?!
I didn't know Nintendo was still a thing?
Once I thought you, Nintendo, were a fun company. Had hours of fun with the Wii; Wii Sports helped me get back on my feet once.
Then you started blocking Homebrew, and I learned of all the other things you were doing and had done.
I want to own my hardware. I may not actually install Homebrew, and I'm not into pirating. But if I can't hack into my computer, it isn't my computer.
Sorry, Nintendo, thanks for the time, and good riddance.
1). The first gen Switch have a hardware error in the Video chip that allow a Switch to be rooted. Nintendo wasnt going to allow this to remain forever.
2). Their hardware charge port is not compliant with its standard, which is why people were bricking their devices with 3rd party cords. Not really Ns fault, since the standard wasnt complete when they went to manufacture.
Just more games would be nice. Having played a lot of the stuff on Wii U already and many of the third party games on PS4 months or even years before they show up on Switch, I just want more original content.
Twinstiq, game news
And the "consoles" are just gonna be AMD PCs running mid level at best APUs...got it.
Remember the days when you got a console despite PCs being more powerful as the consoles had exotic hardware and ran bare metal so they could do more with said hardware? The NES could do color palettes PCs could only dream of on its launch, Genesis had that great sound chip, SNES had Mode 7, the PS1 was better at doing 3D than all but the most high end PCs of the time...sigh, those were the days.
I guess I got out of consoles at the right time, right when they got rid of the original Xbox (man those were great for modding, made awesome HTPCs) because all I'm seeing from the consoles these days is DRMed all to fuck PCs (and with the Switch smartphones) and the one saving grace they really had over PCs, how long they were supported with triple A titles, looks like its gonna be going by the wayside as the corps come up with new models every other year.
At least with PCs I can just add a part here, a part there and it'll cost a hell of a lot less than replacing a $400+ console every other year (hell you can pair an FX-8350 or second gen I5 from 2012 with a GTX 1060 or RX570 and play damn near every current title in 1080P at 60FPS) and now with Nintendo jumping on the "every other year" bandwagon...what exactly is the selling point for these consoles?
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
lol at nintendo switch
It's the WSJ. ALWAYS assume it's paywalled. In fact, never link to those fucking assholes again.
#DeleteFacebook
How about some new games that aren't Pokemon? I love my Switch, but Nintendo really seems to have shot their wad in year one. I don't see anything of the quality of Zelda, Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 or even Arms coming anytime soon. I'm not impressed with the post launch release of ports of Doom, Skyrim and LA Noire. All games I loved on PC, but $50 for an older game? They are regularly in the bargain bin on Steam.
It's really disappointing to hear them talking about hardware refreshes.
It would be nice if they allowed the system to update the cartridges with the DLC and updates and our save states in the next switch or even this current one. Maybe the v2 switch can be more like a hub that can stream games to any tv in the house. No more docking and undocking or fighting over the tv with the kids. They can just play in their respective rooms. You can have local and internet based multiplayer on separate TVs without having to have a dedicated console for each TV.
Nintendo has fought piracy even more than usual lately, even going so far as to kick people off youtube for playing their games with (HORROR!) the sound turned on.
Most all the most popular consoles have been cracked wide open relatively soon after release. The switch took forever and a day for that to happen.
Piracy drives hardware sales, and you need those to get started with.
Just get a GPD Win2 and play your Steam library on the go
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPD_Win_2
But if I can't hack into my computer, it isn't my computer.
Sorry, Nintendo, thanks for the time, and good riddance.
Welcome to PC. You'll come to enjoy being your own master.
Wanna race?
The Switch's sales have been steady since the holiday surge ended... and it's basically tied with the PS4 for first place in global sales. I'm not seeing the problem here.
Support for Bluetooth Headphones seems like a no-brainer for a portable gaming device. Couldn't believe the current one doesn't support this.
Thanks for the preface warning of what could be a completely fabricated story.
PlanetVulkan.com
Still home to insufferable autistic PC nerds, as always. You cunts never grew up past "lol kiddy nintendoh, not 1337 like glorious pc master race", did you?
I'd like a cheaper, simpler switch that doesn't have a screen or a battery and comes with normal controllers. My kids like Nintendo games, but our Wii U has largely been a bust because of all its wacky controllers and options and gimmicks.
Let's not stir that bag of worms...